The Fort Worth-based Oneworld alliance carrier is requesting the slots from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for daily service between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo from late 2013, and daily service between ChicagoO'Hare and Sao Paulo from late 2014, it says.

The DOT invited applications from US carriers for 91 new US-Brazil frequencies that will be available in two batches from 1 October 2013 and 1 October 2014, on 15 February. The frequencies are split between 14 to any point in Brazil, 14 to any point except Sao Paulo and 14 to any point except Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo that are available this October, and 14 to any point, 14 to any point except Sao Paulo and 21 to any point except Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in October 2014.

The frequencies are part of the US and Brazil open skies agreement that entered into service in March 2011. Under the agreement, full liberalisation will be achieved by October 2015.

The DOT has 28 unused US-Brazil frequencies available now, it says.

Access to the Sao Paulo airport is an issue for US carriers. US Airways received seven frequencies to serve Guarulhos in 2010 but was unable to secure suitable slots at the airport until last year. However, its flight from Charlotte will arrive in Sao Paulo at 04:30 and depart at 08:25 compared to most US flights that arrive in the late morning and depart in the late evening.